Hi everyone! It's Tania and welcome to the Moms for Christ podcast. The Word I have today comes from Luke, chapter 18, verse 13. And it says, “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’”

This is taken from a parable Jesus spoke to the people confident in their own works. In the parable, a Pharisee and a tax collector go to the temple to pray. The Pharisee begins to pray listing all of his accomplishments the things that he does in his own strength. He believed that because he did these things, it not only made him righteous, but that it actually made him better than the tax collector. The tax collector stood at a distance, and could not even look up to heaven. He understood who he was...and his need for something greater. That in his own strength - or works - it would not save him.

"Knowing who you are causes you to stay grounded...I want this understanding that I am a sinner."

Recently, I had a talk with one of my daughters. She wanted to know if she would go to heaven when she died. Immediately God brought this parable to mind. She could do all the right things on her own, but it really would never bring her into the relationship that God desires to have with her. But, when she understands who she is - and her need for a Savior - then it's nothing she can do, but trust in God that allows her to move in obedience to the Lord. Knowing who you are causes you to stay grounded because you understand that there's nothing you can do in your own strength to save yourself. It causes you to come into complete dependence on the Lord.

"I will forever be leaning on my Savior, instead of trying to be my own savior."

I think about my youngest daughter, and I honestly think she was born believing that she was older than she actually was. She was so independent. She didn't understand that she was still a baby, and certain things were put in place so that she needed an adult to help her. Many times, she tried to do things in her own strength - only to become frustrated because she was not a big kid like the others. God has done the same thing, giving us Jesus and His Holy Spirit. I want this understanding that I am a sinner, and I need a Savior to always be before me, and my children. Because as long as it is, I will forever be leaning on my Savior, instead of trying to be my own savior.

"Open our eyes to see that we are sinners in need of a Savior."

Lord, thank You for this amazing Word You have given us - a Word that we are to look to to judge ourselves: Where do I fall short? The amazing thing is that we will always fall short in our own strength. Lord open our eyes to see who we are. Open our eyes to see that we are sinners in need of a Savior. That there’s nothing we can do on our own, but that it's literally You coming inside us, leading us, and Your Spirit that is pleasing to You. I pray that we would go forward with an understanding of who we are, and our need for You. That we wouldn't be righteous in our own lives and in our own eyes, but that it would be You that would justify us. Amen. God bless and have a wonderful week. I will speak to you again soon.